The Latest

Accelerating your firm's progress with technology is more imperative than ever. With new business models emerging in light of the fluctuating markets, firms must be prepared to compete under a variety of scenarios.

In my last article (March 16-April 5, 2009, page 19), I discussed the concept of accountability. In this article, I want to explain how to implement a culture of accountability and the barriers that can stop you from being successful.

SOFTWARE & SERVICES

CALIFORNIA

APRIL

CALIFORNIA Leinani Nakamura has been appointed managing partner of Mohler, Nixon & Williams, Campbell. ... Norman Shikuzawa and Van Jagtiani have joined Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co., Fremont, as director of audit and manager of audit, respectively. ... Jennifer Dizon, a partner with Hood & Strong LLP, has been named one of 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. FLORIDA Steve Picha has joined RSM McGladrey, Fort Lauderdale, as a tax director. ... Dave Hovey has joined KBL LLP, Tampa, as director of taxation. GEORGIA Mateja Podgorsek has joined Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC, Atlanta, as a staff accountant. MISSOURI Patrick Shelton has been named managing member at Benefit Plans Plus, St. Louis. NEW JERSEY Rebecca Machinga, a partner with WithumSmith+Brown PC, Red Bank, has been named one of New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business 2009 by NJBiz. ... Chris A. Rogers, a vice president at Infragistics Inc., East Windsor, N.J., has been named to the Private Company Financial Reporting Committee. NEW YORK Shawn Hessing has been named national managing partner of the U.S. Private Equity Group of KPMG LLP, New York. ... Marshall Bernstein has joined cbiz Mahoney Cohen, New York, as a senior associate, while Karl Knechtel has joined the firm as a manager. ... Margaret Lupardo has joined the Lake Ronkonkoma branch of Gilman Ciocia Inc., while Jeff Cristadoro has joined the Greenvale branch. Both will provide financial planning services to individual and corporate clients. NORTH CAROLINA Rhyne Cannon has joined the Charlotte office of Elliott Davis LLC, as business development manager. ... Nancy Campbell and Tim Naylor have been named partners at Hughes Pittman & Gupton LLP, Raleigh. OHIO Nick Lepley has joined Brady Ware, Columbus, as a team accountant. PENNSYLVANIA Paula Barrett, a partner in the Consulting Services Group of Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP, Reading, has been named the Junior Achievement of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley's 2009 Business Hall of Fame Outstanding Volunteer. ... Aaron M. Good has been promoted to staff II accountant at Dunlap & Associates PC, Chalfont. SOUTH CAROLINA Erica Dawgert and John C. Griffiths of WebsterRogers LLP, Florence, have earned the CPA designation. ... Liz Oates has joined the Charleston office of Elliott Davis LLC as business development manager. TENNESSEE Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain PC, Nashville, announced a number of new hires: Lee Holliday and Mark A. Warren have joined LBMC Managed Security Services LLC as system analysts, while Katie Berk has joined LBMC Employment Partners LLC as an HR assistant. ... Dana Hannah and Bethany Johnson have joined Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC, Nashville, as a tax manager and a supervising senior, respectively. TEXAS Klaus Oehring has joined UHY Advisors TX LLC, Houston, as director of transfer pricing. ... Rick Sukkar has joined Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC, Dallas, as a managing director.

Accounting Tomorrow needs you.

Can anything good come out of a $65 billion Ponzi scheme?

The economic downturn, coupled with proposals to make the Research and Development Credit permanent, the potential repeal of LIFO, and higher individual tax rates under the Obama administration, could significantly reshape the landscape of S corps over the next several years."For planning purposes, the proposal to make the R&D Credit permanent has significance because it will affect what types of investments companies will make," explained Rick Klahsen, managing director at RSM McGladrey's national tax department. "However, the proposed repeal of the LIFO inventory method would have a tremendous negative impact on S corporations. Many S corporations are manufacturers, and the loss of the LIFO method will cost them in terms of additional taxable income. It will cause them to take a look at the types of inventory investments they might make."

Washington, D.C.-In the wake of several high-profile Ponzi schemes - most notably, the $65 billion fraud perpetrated by the now-jailed Bernard Madoff - the Internal Revenue Service has issued new guidance for victims of these types of schemes and their tax preparers.